Buenos Aires : Everyone visiting Argentina will be able to take a snapshot next to a life-size bronze statue of Diego Maradona, unveiled at the capital's Ministro Pistarini International Airport.  More than a year after his physical departure, Argentines continue to pay tribute to the great Pibe de Oro (Spanish word meaning The Golden Boy) and from now on travelers passing through Buenos Aires will be able to enjoy a 1.65 meters tall Maradona, located on the second floor of Terminal A at Ezeiza.

The idea of ​​erecting a statue of Maradona at the country’s main airport has been mooted in recent years, due to a strong bond between the Maradona and the airline’s founder, Eduardo Eurnekian. Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 is one of the largest airport operators in the world, operating 35 airports and more than 2,627 employees. A dream come true for Eduardo Eurnekian, who thus fulfilled a commitment he had made with the soccer player during their years of friendship, long before his death on November 25 last year.

The bronze statue is inspired by the figure of the 10 in his time as a player of the Argentina National Team, for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and had a long manufacturing process that first began with the search for many images of Maradona in that historic World Cup where he lifted the Cup.  According to its creators, the total production took 10 days and the design was made by digital artists using 3D software, superimposing different images to immortalize Diego.

It was a few years ago that El Pelusa (another nickname for Maradona) and Eurnekian met through the ex-football player and ex-coach César Luis Menotti and the businessman approached him with the idea of making a statue. Maradona agreed with the idea that it should be placed at the airport to welcome visitors.

This is one of several initiatives that have multiplied since the death of the great Argentine soccer player, whose face is everywhere in his native country, in sculptures and on the walls of hundreds of local artists who, through graffiti, pay homage to "the greatest of all time".